Portarlington property owners could be slugged $328,000 over Park St upgrades

Geelong’s mayor has broken ranks and voted against a plan that would see some Portarlington residents charged tens of thousands on top of their regular rates bill.

Geelong council has taken the next step towards charging 10 landholders $32,000 on average, after six indicated their support for a special rates and charges (SRC) scheme. Pictured, councillor Jim Mason (left, inset) and mayor Trent Sullivan (right, inset).

Property owners in seaside hamlet on the Bellarine Peninsula may be slugged with tens of thousands of dollars in additional rates, in a move Geelong mayor has labelled “an extreme cost”.

Eleven properties in Portarlington will bear the brunt of costs to seal and construct kerbs on Park St, estimated to be more than $437,000, through a special rates and charges (SRC) scheme.

Neighbouring residents would cover about $328,000 – or 75 per cent.

At last week’s council meeting, councillors voted to give “notice of intent” to declare the scheme, after a majority of the affected properties, six of 11, signalled their support for the works.

Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan voted against the plan, along with councillors Eddy Kontelj and Belinda Moloney.

Park St in Portarlington. Picture: Google Maps

Mr Sullivan, who is a Bellarine ward councillor, said he understood that SRC schemes “help the pot go further” but he was uncomfortable with the proposed charges.

“These are significant numbers when we are very recognised (to be) in a cost-of-living crisis,” he said.

“Weighing out numbers as large as that on a six out of 11 majority just doesn’t sit well with me.”

The ten impacted landholders would be charged, on average, about $32,000 on top of their yearly rates to pay for the upgrades.

One landholder, who owns two properties, would be asked to pay more than $78,800, while the property owner charged the least would pay just under $13,000.

Jim Mason, also a Bellarine ward councillor, spoke in support of the scheme, stating was “an appetite for work to be done at Park St” and while SRC schemes could be “wicked problem” they ultimately saved the council money.

“It costs the community a greater amount if there are no SRC … (without them) the rate and momentum of development and facilities supplied to the community at large will be reduced,” he said.

Public consultation related to all unsealed roads in Portarlington occurred in August 2022 and July 2023, with Park St was the “sole street” within Portarlington that supported a SRC scheme according to council officers, prompting a third round of engagement.

Council officers calculated the cost to each ratepayer using a benefit-cost ratio, which found that homeowners will see a “special benefit” from the works.

“It is considered that people in the Portarlington community will not receive a large benefit from the upgrade of Park St as the road is not used to access other areas, apart from the properties adjacent to it and other local roads,” council officers wrote.

Now City Hall has voted on its intention to declare the scheme, affected homeowners have 28 days to lodge submissions or objections with the council.

A submissions review panel of councillors will then meet to hear any submissions before making a recommendation to council, who will then declare, modify or abandon the scheme.

Once it is declared, homeowners can still appeal via the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Originally published as Portarlington property owners could be slugged $328,000 over Park St upgrades